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A lot of people talk about changing the world. But Amazon\u2019s billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos, gave Eva Longoria $50 million\u00a0to actually do it. And two years on, she says the biggest myth still surrounding philanthropy is that you have to be rich to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the biggest misconceptions about philanthropy is that impact is tied to wealth or scale, when in reality, impact comes in many forms,\u201d the Desperate Housewives star told Fortune. \u201cWhat I\u2019ve learned is that impact doesn\u2019t come from how much money you have, it comes from how you show up.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a message that feels pointed at a moment when billionaire philanthropy dominates headlines and ordinary people assume giving back is someone else\u2019s job.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Longoria, the most powerful\u2014and most overlooked\u2014form of change happens at street level. \u201cMentoring someone, supporting small business, sharing what you know\u2014those things matter because not everyone has access to capital or resources, but anyone can be part of someone else\u2019s support system,\u201d she adds. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s really what\u2019s missing for a lot of people \u2014 they don\u2019t have someone in their corner.\u201d<\/p>\n
What Eva Longoria did with Jeff Bezos\u2019s $50 million<\/p>\n
The actress is practicing what she preaches. Having built a net worth north of\u00a0 $80 million thanks to a sprawling business portfolio\u2014including a luxury tequila brand Casa Del Sol, the media company Hyphenate Media Group, a stake in women\u2019s soccer team Angel City FC and an early investment in the multibillion-dollar John Wick franchise\u2014now, she\u2019s channeling paying it forward by\u00a0mentoring small business owners through a new partnership with Lenovo.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s also been running the Eva Longoria Foundation since 2012 to improve educational and\u00a0entrepreneurial\u00a0opportunities for Latinas in the U.S., as well as Eva\u2019s Heroes\u2014a charity that helps young adults with \u201cintellectual special needs,\u201d according to its website.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bezos and his wife, Lauren S\u00e1nchez, launched the Courage and Civility Award in 2021 for individuals who make significant contributions to society. They\u2019re given millions (often $100 million) to help those in need.\u00a0 Previous recipients include CNN host and civil rights advocate Van Jones, chef and humanitarian Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, and country legend Dolly Parton\u2014who famously helped fund Moderna\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine research.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s why Longoria says receiving the prize, alongside Bill McRaven, a retired Navy admiral, is much bigger than the money.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReceiving that support was incredibly meaningful, not just because of the scale of the gift, but because it represented trust and responsibility,\u201d Longoria said, adding that she\u2019s be \u201cmore intentional and more strategic\u201d in how she shows up as an advocate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis award has allowed me to continue investing those resources into the communities and causes I care deeply about\u2014supporting Latina entrepreneurs, expanding access to education, and backing organizations that are driving real change on the ground,\u201d she added. \u201cThe Courage and Civility Award makes it possible for us at the EvaLongoria Foundation to create long-term impact with transformative giving.\u201d<\/p>\n
McRaven, who oversaw the 2011 raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, pledged to use his share of the money to develop education programs for future military leaders and the children of deceased veterans, as well as mental health support for those who serve.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to be a billionaire to make a difference<\/p>\n
Longoria isn\u2019t the only one making the case that you don\u2019t need to be rich and famous to make a difference.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just look at The Giving Pledge\u2014the commitment, co-founded by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett, that asks the ultra-wealthy to donate at least 50% of their fortunes\u2014has attracted more than 250 signatories since its launch in 2010.<\/p>\n
The number who have actually followed through? A handful\u2014less than 10. Most only fulfilled the pledge after their deaths.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s why Liz Baker, CEO of Greater Good Charities, says we \u201ccan\u2019t afford\u201d to wait on billionaires to solve the world\u2019s problems. \u201cI think if everybody did something to help in their community, we wouldn\u2019t have the issues that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
The global nonprofit she runs has distributed more than $1 billion in impact across 121 countries since 2006\u2014and she also told Fortune that the idea that giving back has to be some grand, expensive gesture is one of the biggest things holding people back.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody can chip in\u2014and it doesn\u2019t even have to be money. Like, do something,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if you\u2019re like, I have one hour a week to solve this problem in my community that I care about,\u201d Baker said. \u201cFigure out how to do that. Most local nonprofits need help.\u201d<\/p>\n
#Jeff #Bezos #gave #Eva #Longoria #million #charityshe #message #philanthropy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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